The Best of Pedro Almodóvar’s Absurd Comedies
A funny thing happened on the way to La Mancha… I don’t really know what the punch line to that jokey set-up is, but I do know that the gag definitely has a lot to do with the master of rude Spanish mirth, Pedro Almodóvar. With two Academy Awards under his belt, Almodóvar is one of Spain’s most well-known and prolific directors, known for his outlandish characters, vibrant visual style, and mastery of camp, melodrama and comedy.
Ever since using his own savings to produce his first film, the wacked-out comedy Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón (Pepi, Luci, and Bom) in 1980, he has consistently churned out a new feature every two, sometimes three, years, winning international adoration and Oscars along the way. Although Almodóvar became the ultimate big-city Madrileño, both he and Cervantes’ hilarious fictional character Don Quixote (sure, groan if you skipped the assigned reading in school, but it is actually damned funny) originally hail from the sleepy Spanish region of La Mancha. Who knows whether it’s some magically funky air propelling through those windmills or some other spell, but it sure churns out some wickedly funny artistry.
Of course, Almodóvar is much more than a comedic genius and can knock any genre out of the park that he sets his mind to, but here’s a guide to Almodovar’s movies for when you are jonesing for the funnier side of ese hijo de… La Mancha.